The University of Colorado football team takes on Colorado State University for the Rocky Mountain Showdown at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012.

I caught up with Colorado’s true freshman cornerback, Kenneth Crawley, for the first time since some veterans questioned younger defensive backs’ study habits. Parker Orms and Ray Polk didn’t name names — except themselves, whom they admitted have also made mistakes — but Crawley is the most prominent true freshman in the secondary.

He got beat twice for touchdowns by USC’s Robert Woods in Saturday’s 50-6 loss to the Trojans. Colorado coach Jon Embree talked to Orms and Polk about the comments. Sounds like Crawley wanted to talk to them, too. He said he doesn’t agree with them.

“No, absolutely not,” Crawley said. “I have no idea what other people do. Some people have their own study habits. We have school. That probably interferes with study time and film but that’s not right. It’s not right.”

Polk has been out since the opener against Colorado State with a high ankle sprain. Since his injury, the Buffaloes’ young secondary has been shredded. It’s 118th in pass efficiency defense and in 90 minutes will face the preseason Heisman favorite in USC quarterback Matt Barkley.

However, starting right tackle Jack Harris is out with a concussion. In his place is expected to be redshirt freshman Stephane Nembot. That would be a nice treat for USC defensive end Morgan Breslin who leads the Trojans with seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss.

USC is full of future NFL draft picks but the one man I’m keeping an eye on Saturday in the Coliseum is Colorado safety Ray Polk. The senior hasn’t played a game healthy in two years. He played most of last year with a broken sternum and he hasn’t played this year since suffering a high ankle sprain in the opener against Colorado State.

The Buffaloes’ peach-fuzz secondary desperately needs him. They play two true freshmen in their nickel package and have been making mistakes all year.

He’s listed as questionable for Saturday, which means he’ll probably play. Last year USC’s Matt Barkley threw six touchdown passes at Colorado. This year, his weaker stats have been scrutinized by everyone in southern California. His line is certainly weaker. However, he’s also four TD passes from breaking Matt Leinart’s team and Pac-12 career touchdown marks of 99.

Colorado is 118th out of 124 schools in pass efficiency defense (162.1), having given up 20 TD passes and intercepting only three. Let’s see if Polk can play, then let’s see if he can make a difference.

“It’s just been unfortunate that we’ve had to deal with this,” Colorado coach Jon Embree said Tuesday during his weekly media luncheon. “I’m one of those guys (that believes) it evens out at some point.

“It’s the nature of the game; it’s a violent game,” he added. “But it will even out. At some point, we’ll have the same starting lineup.”

For Thursday night’s ESPN game vs. Arizona State, injuries have left Colorado will be without its leading rusher (tailback Christian Powell, thigh bruise), top pass rusher (defensive end Chidera Uzo-Diribe, ankle sprain), a starting cornerback (Yuri Wright, concussion) and a starter at defensive tackle (Justin Solis, concussion).

Also out is Paul Vigo (foot), who is one of the top reserves at linebacker. Senior safety Ray Polk had hoped to play for the first time since suffering a severe high-ankle sprain in the season opener against Colorado State but is listed as “doubtful.”

Done for the year is freshman tailback Terrance Crowder, who suffered a torn ACL in practice on Oct. 3.

BOULDER — Colorado senior safety Ray Polk hasn’t suited up since suffering a serious high-ankle sprain 25 plays into the season opener against Colorado State. But CU coach Jon Embree said he “likes the chances” of Polk playing Oct. 11 in the ESPN-televised Thursday night home game agaisnt Arizona State.

“Ray was running around pretty good,” Embree said following Wednesday’s practice.

Polk said he is just taking it day-by-day and not putting any undue pressure on himself to be back for a specific game, although he sure hopes to play against the Sun Devils.

“This week has been great,” Polk said. “I had kind of reached a plateau, where it didn’t seem to get any better. But we taped it up, put a brace on it to run down the field, and it went a lot better than I expected.

When a Buffs safety draws the responsibility of covering UCLA’s senior tight end Joseph Fauria, the size differential might resemble a team manager trying to check a power forward. Fauria, newphew of former CU standout Christian Fauria, is 6-foot-7 and 255 pounds.

BOULDER — Colorado coach Jon Embree announced Tuesday during his weekly media luncheon that last week’s quarterback rotation will again be used for Saturday’s game at Washington State — Jordan Webb as the starter, with Connor Wood being the first back-up and also assured of some playing time against the Cougars.

Other news from the luncheon:

Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy will move down from the coaching box and coach from the sideline, with quarterbacks coach Rip Scherer remaining in the box to help with play calling.

Linebacker Doug Rippy (knee), safety Ray Polk (ankle), center Brad Cotner (toe) are out for Saturday’s game in Pullman, Wash. Center Gus Handler (ankle) is doubtful. Cornerback Greg Henderson, who has missed two games with an ankle sprain, is probable.

Colorado football legend Bill McCartney made an empassioned plea to support the current coaching staff during the media luncheon that was held at a Boulder hotel and also included members of the Buff Club.

Colorado announced Saturday that it will select team captains on a game-by-game basis, and the opening-game nods went to senior safety Ray Polk, senior defensive tackle Will Pericak, junior quarterback Jordan Webb and junior offensive left tackle David Bakhtiari.

According to CU, this is the first time since 1997 that the team did not name permanent, season-long captains before the schedule began.

BOULDER — Third in a series of Colorado’s top 5 players in different categories, this time the top 5 as keys to the defense. Reporters were prohibited from watching practices, so these lists were developed after interviewing dozens of players and coaches during fall camp.

Colorado’s Top 5 as keys to the defense:

1. Free safety Ray Polk — The senior must direct traffic in a secondary that has four true freshmen in its two-deep, including starting left cornerback Kenneth Crawley. A three-year starter, Polk (6-1, 205) eagerly took on that task and spent additional time in the film room during the offseason so he could learn the responsibilities of every position in the secondary, including the nickel-back and dime-back.

2. Defensive end Chidera Uzo-Diribe — Quarterbacks in the pass-happy Pac-12 will pick you apart when they have time. The Buffs absolutely, positively need a big junior year from Uzo-Diribe (6-3, 250), their best pass rusher.

3. Linebacker Doug Rippy — Before being felled last fall by a knee injury, the senior from Ohio was CU’s best defensive player. If he hasn’t lost a step or any aggressiveness, his return will be huge for the Buffs.

4. Cornerback Greg Henderson — After earning a starting job last season as a rookie, it’s imperative that the 5-11, 185-pounder have an even more consistent season year as a sophomore. If Henderson can be a shut-down corner on the right side, it will enable CU safeties to help out true freshman Kenneth Crawley on the left size.

5. Defensive tackle Will Pericak — The Boulder native, perhaps best known for the odd “Pre-check” pronunciation of his last name, has been solid throughout his career. Colorado needs him to take the next step and be spectacular. If Pac-12 teams find they can run the ball on the Buffs, it opens up infinite options in the passing game. That’s trouble.

BOULDER — As Colorado’s Saturday afternoon season opener against Colorado State at Sports Authority Field at Mile High approaches, I’ll offer some top 5 lists, beginning with the top five CU true freshmen that will make an immediate impact.

Keep in mind, the media was kept out of practices, so these lists are developed after speaking to dozens of CU coaches and players during fall camp.

Colorado’s Top 5 true freshmen of influence:

1. Cornerback Kenneth Crawley — The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder from Washington D.C., didn’t come as highly regarded as Buffs teammate Yuri Wright, a national top-100 prospect. But Crawley, who was made some national top-300 lists, is the one who earned a starting job — at left corner. And it appears he will be CU’s top punt returner as well.

2. Safety Marques Mosley — A 6-1, 180-pounder from Upland, Calif., Mosley will return kickoffs for the Buffs and also is the top backup to senior Ray Polk at free safety. Coaches talk frequently about how Polk has mentored Mosley, and how quickly Mosley has caught on.

3. Defensive tackle Josh Tupou — At 6-3 and 325 pounds, the imposing Californian from Long Beach has the girth and natural strength that CU has been missing along the defensive interior. Will be in rotation for the two defensive tackle spots with senior Will Pericak (6-4, 285) and junior Nate Bonsu (6-1, 280). At 325, Tupou isn’t flabby, just big.

4. Wide receiver Gerald Thomas — Wednesday’s announcement that Paul Richardson (ACL surgery) will redshirt this season made it more imperative that Thomas (5-11, 175) make an immediate impact. CU has plenty of possession receivers, but Thomas, like Richardson, can be explosive in the open field. QB Jordan Webb raves about the skill set of Thomas, who played high school ball in the Dallas area but is originally from New Orleans.

5. Fullback Christian Powell — Like Tupou, Powell (6-foot, 235) arrived as a teenager that’s physically ready for major-college football. Powell, listed behind junior Alex Wood on the latest depth chart but sure to get snaps, will be counted upon to help open holes for tailback Tony Jones. But Powell can carry the ball and catch passes. It wouldn’t be a shock if CU shows Powell setting up along QB Jordan Webb in a one-back set on occasion.

To review, Polk, a senior free safety who is 2-1 against the Rams in his career, said this about why CU needs to bring a heightened intensity to the season opener: “We have to understand that this is their ‘bowl game’ for the most part. This is a huge game for them.”

BOULDER — Growing up in Phoenix, Colorado senior free safety Ray Polk didn’t know much of anything about the Colorado vs. Colorado State rivalry. But the fifth-year player has grown to understand and appreciate it.

“We definitely take the game seriously,” Polk told me after a recent practice. “It’s a big game, a big game every year. We know they’re going to come out swinging, so we just have to fight back.”

BOULDER — Considering that Colorado ranked last in pass-efficiency defense among Pac-12 teams in 2011, it came as no surprise that signing defensive backs was a priority during recruiting.

In February, the Buffs landed five high school DBs. Four of the five may help immediately, with John Walker of Washington D.C., having to wait until 2013 because a finger injury early in August camp required surgery and he likely will redshirt this season.

From speaking with coaches (practices are closed to the public, including the media), it appears the two most highly regarded of the signees, Yuri Wright and Kenneth Crawley, are living up to their billing.

Speaking during the recent Pac-12 football media day, Colorado junior offensive tackle David Bakhtiari said every other Pac-12 team should be considered the Buffs’ rival, especially the best teams.

“Everyone wants to aim for the ‘top dog,’ and that’s who we want to pinpoint as being our rival,” Bakhtiari said. “Utah, it is a media-forced thing, but it’s not 100 percent. They’re a great team. We love playing them. But at the end of the day, I see every team as our rival.

“We want to be the best. You’ve got to beat the best if you want to be the best. We’re going to try to beat all of them.”

Said senior safety Ray Polk: “As far as rivalry goes, (Utah) is a great team and will always be a great opponent. We’re still young in this conference, and we’re trying to figure out where we want to fit in.

“For me looking at it, you look to the best team and you want to play that team, you want to make that team your rival. You look to the best and you expect the best out of your players.”

Now having experienced a year in the Pac-12 Conference, Colorado’s two player representatives at the Pac-12 media day in Los Angeles, junior offensive tackle David Bakhtiari and senior safety Ray Polk, were asked by a reporter how their new league compared to their former league, the Big 12.

“The Big 12 is a little more bigger, stronger; Pac-12 is a little more faster,” Bakhtiari said. “You have ‘freaks’ in each league.”

Said Polk: “From my standpoint, playing defense, there are so many threats in the Pac-12. You’ve got so many good players in one conference (the Pac-12), it’s a different ballgame.

“For me, (in the Big 12) you would see one great receiver on the team. Here, you have two or three.”

Colorado football coach Jon Embree will be accompanied by junior offensive tackle David Bakhtiari and senior free safety Ray Polk for Tuesday’s Pac-12 media day activities at Universal Studios in Los Angeles.

Bakhtiari, 6-foot-4 and 295 pounds, has been listed on several preseason all-Pac-12 teams after having been named second-team all-conference by the league’s coaches following the 2011 season. From the San Franciso Bay Area, he was a full-time starter at left tackle last season after having started at guard as a redshirt freshman in 2010.

Polk, 6-1 and 205 pounds, will be a full-time starter in the Colorado secondary for the third year after having made three starts in 2009 as a redshirt freshman. Despite playing last season with several injuries, including a cracked sternum, the Arizonian ranked second on the team with 80 tackles, behind only the 85 stops recorded by linebacker Jon Major.

Colorado is first up for media-day team interviews, beginning its 20-minute session at 10:15 a.m. Mountain time. Video will be posted on Pac-12.org.

I will be on-site for media day, blogging and writing live for denverpost.com and The Denver Post print edition.

Here’s the full schedule (Mountain daylight time) for Tuesday, July 24:

If Colorado coach Jon Embree needs a show-and-tell prop to motivate his team at the beginning of August camp, he can prop up some of those pre-season college football magazines.

I have purchased Athlon and Lindy’s, and neither expects much of anything from the CU Buffs in 2012.

Both pick Colorado to finish last in the Pac-12 South. Lindy’s also ranks the conference teams 1-through-12, and has CU rated last in the league and only No. 77 nationally among 124 FBS (major-college) teams.

It gets worse. Athlon also ranks Pac-12 teams by their individual units, and Colorado only shows up well at linebacker.

With a veteran linebacker corps that features seniors Jon Major and Doug Rippy and junior Derrick Webb, Colorado ranks fifth-best at that position, trailing only the linebacking units of (1) Stanford, (2) Oregon, (3) Southern California, and (4) UCLA.

But other than at linebacker, the best the Buffs can do among Pac-12 units is rank 11th at offensive line and defensive line.

Athlon rates the Buffs dead last in the Pac-12 at quarterback, running back, wide receiver/tight end and defensive back.

Athlon was published before Colorado officially welcomed Kansas transfer Jordan Webb to its quarterback derby and it’s unclear whether his addition may have pushed the Buffs out of last place at that position. Webb, a junior and two-year starter for the Jayhawks, is eligible to play immediately because he has earned a degree from KU.

Webb is expected to battle sophomores Nick Hirschman and Connor Wood for the starting job. Wood, a transfer from Texas, sat out the 2011 season under NCAA rules but participated in CU practices.

Unless wide receiver Paul Richardson makes it back from a torn ACL suffered in spring drills, Colorado returns just three starters on offense in offensive linemen David Bakhtiari, Ryan Dannewitz and Gus Handler.

The Buffs return six starters on the defensive side of the ball: defensive backs Greg Henderson and Ray Polk, defensive lineman Will Pericak and the linebacker corps of Major, Rippy and Webb.

Kensler joined The Denver Post in 1989 and has covered a variety of beats, including Colorado, Colorado State, golf, Olympics and the Denver Broncos. His brush with greatness: losing in a two-on-two pickup basketball game at Ohio State against two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin.

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.